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Take monthly with water July 2017 23
Maritime News
With the upcoming 50th Anniversary
Sydney International Boat Show – and
its Aladdin’s Cave of small and large boats on
offer - it is a good time to talk about choosing
the right boat. Whether it is a kayak or small
tinny, a waterski boat or a large yacht or cruiser
–
the show will have something for everyone...
but before splashing out it is worth taking a
few moments to think about some issues in
choosing the right boat.
The first question for most people is “what
am I going to use the boat for?”. Think about
what you want to do on the water, where you
want to go and who you want to do it with.
This will help you narrow down the type and
size of boat you are after – certain boats
are specialised for certain activities (e.g . hi
performance sailing dinghies and wakeboarding
boats) while others are more versatile (e.g . your
half-cabin ‘runabout’ which is good for fishing,
but can tow a tube rider or skier if required). At
the same time, all boats have their limitations
in terms of their load carrying capacity and the
types of weather and sea conditions they can
safely handle – check the builder’s plate for
information on safe loads, and if in doubt, ask
the manufacturer or seller. Above all, be sure to
go for a boat that can handle the full range of
conditions that it might encounter – not just the
‘typical’ conditions. For example, if you plan to
go boating on a large open estuary or inland
lake, make sure your boat can deal with the
large wind chop that can affect these waters.
If you are choosing a smaller vessel such as a
sailing dinghy, tinny or kayak, think about the
boat’s colour... as discussed in last month’s
edition, it is important to be seen by others. This
is very important on canoes and kayaks, which
sit very low on the water. A bright hull colour
will help you be seen, and really shouldn’t scare
the fish away! (fish are much more likely to be
spooked by noise or movement, and the optics
of water and air mean that fish would need to
be virtually right alongside and near the surface
to see your hull’s colour).
You might also think about whether your
boating ideals are more about the destination
(e.g . your favourite fishing spot) or the journey
itself (e.g . relaxing and taking in the scenery)
–
as this might help you decide whether to go
for a faster vessel (say with a large outboard
engine) or a more leisurely diesel powered boat
or sailing vessel.
While picking the type of boat might be the
first thing to consider, there are other important
considerations for ensuring that your boating is
safe and enjoyable. The vessel will need the right
equipment – especially safety equipment. Make
sure you have lifejackets for everyone on board
- and consider getting the newer inflatable style
jackets that are easy to wear all the time. Be
sure to have all the other equipment required
for your vessel type and the waters on which you
will use it (enclosed or open) – and keep track of
when it needs to be serviced or replaced. When
buying a new larger boat, be sure to check
carefully what equipment is included, and what
items are optional extras. It might be worth
paying a little more to have that electric anchor
winch or fish-finder if it makes an easier more
enjoyable day on the water.
Another consideration when buying a boat is its
ongoing maintenance and storage. You might
be able to afford that new speedboat, yacht or
cruiser... but what about upkeep and where are
you going to store it? Maintenance and storage
are very easy for small vessels like tinnies and
kayaks – which might even fit on top of your
car, allowing you to keep them at home. A
simple rinse down after each use and an annual
check of the outboard would just about cover it.
However, with larger vessels, the list of potential
considerations quickly grows: engine servicing,
antifouling, insurance, registration, the trailer,
mooring and/or berthing. Costs can quickly
mount, and need to be factored in ahead of
time. Convenient storage and accessibility come
at an extra cost, but mean that it is easier to
use your boat more often, which will help justify
the cost.
Achieving a long and happy ‘life of boating’
depends very much on getting the balance right
between vessel size/ cost and amount of use:
the more it costs, the more most people feel
they need to use it! So when choosing a vessel,
especially a larger one, think very carefully about
how you can make it as easy as possible to get
on board and get out on the water. While a
private mooring might be comparatively cheap,
it often means quite a logistical exercise in
getting you – and your guests and gear – out
to the boat and back again each time you go
out. While a marina berth may cost a lot more,
the extra convenience of the ‘walk-on walk-off’
access may be worth it – if it means getting
out most weekends instead of every couple of
months. Even with relatively cheap vessels like
tinnies and kayaks, think about how you can
get the most out of them... should I go for
something I can put on my car, or should I try
to find a storage rack near the water? The key is
to make the preparation and pack-up after each
boating trip as easy as possible so you’ll go out
more often!
CHOOSING THE
RIGHT BOAT